Multicultural Literature for Latino Bilingual Children

This book presents theoretical, research based, and classroom practices that explore the use of multicultural children’s literature to support the linguistic, academic, and psychological development of Latino children in the process of becoming bilingual and acquiring English. The contributions cover a broad spectrum of issues related to the effective use of children’s literature with Bilingual Learners (BL), including identity development, critical pedagogy, biliteracy development, and holistic literacy instruction.

Ellen Riojas Clark, PhD is Professor Emerita of Bicultural-Bilingual Studies at The University of Texas at San Antonio. Her research examines self-concept, teacher identity, ethnic identity, efficacy, and Latino cultural studies. Belinda Bustos Flores, PhD is a Professor and Chair of Bicultural-Bilingual Studies at The University of Texas at San Antonio. Her research focuses on teacher development including self-concept, ethnic identity, efficacy, beliefs, teacher recruitment/retention, high stakes testing, and family cultural knowledge. Flores is founder of the Academy for Teacher Excellence. Howard L. Smith, PhD is an Associate Professor of Bicultural Bilingual Studies at the University of Texas at San Antonio. Dr. Smith conducts research and publishes in the areas of biliteracy, family literacy, and multiculturalism. Daniel Alejandro Gonzaléz, MA is a cultural researcher and ethnographic filmmaker from San Antonio, TX. His research examines identity formation in bicultural settings, inclusion and organizational structures in educational settings and communities in low-income areas. He has consulted and collaborated with organizations including public school districts, Academy for Teacher Excellence, NASA, Avance Inc., and others.

Foreword: Literature in the Lives of Latino Children Alma Flora Ada Preface: Derrumbando Fronteras/Breaking Boundaries Ellen Riojas Clark and Belinda Bustos Flores Acknowledgments Part I. Framing the Discussions: Theory and Rationale Chapter 1: Multicultural Latino Children's Literature: A Tool to Enrich the Lives and the Learning of Latino Bilingual Learners Ellen Riojas Clark and Belinda Bustos Flores Chapter 2: Exploring the Traditions of Latino Children's Literature: Beyond Tokenism to Transformation Howard L. Smith, Belinda Bustos Flores, and Daniel A. González Part II. Multicultural Children's Literature Representing Latino's Realities Chapter 3: Beyond Calaveras and Quinceañeras: Fostering Bilingual Latino Students' Identity Development with Culturally Relevant Literature Jamie Campbell Naidoo and Ruth E. Quiroa Chapter 4: Cruzando Fronteras: Negotiating the Stories of Latino Immigrant and Transnational Children Patricia Sánchez and Maité Landa Chapter 5: Using Children's Literature to Understand Values, Traditions, and Beliefs within Latino Family Systems Mari Riojas-Cortez and Raquel Cataldo Chapter 6: Culturally Relevant Literature for Latino Children in the Early Childhood Classroom Ysaaca Axelrod and Cristina Gillanders Part III. Multicultural Literature in the Content Areas: Language Arts, Social Studies, Science, and Mathematics Chapter 7: Embracing the Complexity of Language: Bringing all Forms of Knowledge into the Language Arts through Latino Children's Literature Christina Passos DeNicolo Chapter 8: En el Aquel Entonces y Hoy en Día: Using Latino Children's Literature to Situate Social Studies Education Mary Esther Huerta and Carmen Tafolla Chapter 9: Dichos y Adivinanzas: Literary Resources that Enhance Science Learning and Teaching in the Bilingual Classroom María Guadalupe Arreguín-Anderson and José Escalante Ruiz Chapter 10: Tiempo y Cultura: Exploring Latino Stories through Mathematics Carlos LopezLeiva and Yoo Kyung Sung Part IV: Multiple Modes of Multicultural Children's Literature Chapter 11: Cultural Multiliteracies Integrating Technology in Latino Children's Literature Lucila Ek, Sonia Sánchez, and Myria Jimena Guerra Chapter 12: Latino Children's Literature in Picturebook Format Miriam Martinez, Nancy L. Roser, Angie Zapata, and Erin Greeter Chapter 13: Técnica Con Safos: Visual Iconography in Latino Picture Books As Tools for Cultural Affirmation Lettycia Terrones Chapter 14: Latino Children's Literature and Literacy Practices as Social Imagination: Becoming a Culturally Efficacious Educator Belinda Bustos Flores, Ellen Riojas Clark, and Howard L. Smith Part V: Fuentes de Recursos Chapter 15: Realizing and Capitalizing on Our Cultural Literary Heritage: The Big Brown Elephant in the Room Oralia Garza de Cortés Postscript: Personal Foundations, Present Realities, and Future Productions Daniel Alejandro González Una Fuente de Recursos: Resources for Teachers and Children 1.List of Suggested Latino Children's Books Latino Daniel Alejandro González and Amanda A. Hernandez 2.Recommended Books in Spanish for Children Oralia Garza de Cortés 3.PROFESSIONAL MULTICULTURAL RESOURCES Daniel Alejandro González and Amanda A. Hernandez Index About the Contributors